Is it permissible to throw schoolbooks containing Qur'anic verses and Prophetic hadiths, as well as newspapers, into the trash, given that the municipality burns all the waste?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to throw schoolbooks and newspapers into the trash, given that the municipality burns all the waste? We place them in a separate bag so they do not mix with other waste. If that is not permissible, what should we do? The books contain verses and hadiths. Please inform us and guide us in this matter, may you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : It is well known that the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the speech of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is noble and precious, and care must be taken with it. It must be held in high esteem, and it is not permissible to throw it into filth or impure things under any circumstances. However, in some countries, we see that some municipalities, may Allah guide them, provide a special bin for newspapers, magazines, and books. If such a facility exists, that is good. If one has extra books, he should take them to that designated bin, and he will have fulfilled his obligation. After placing them in that bin, the responsibility lies with the municipality. The municipality will be thanked and rewarded by Allah (Mighty and Majestic) if it does so.
As for ordinary bins where filth, stench, and other disgusting things are thrown, it is not possible to place the speech of Allah and the speech of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in them. However, if the municipality workers have understanding and awareness, and you place the items in a bag and set them aside next to the bin so that the workers know they are not to be mixed with other waste, I hope there is no harm in that.
Otherwise, if you fear that the workers do not have knowledge, as is usually the case with municipality workers, you should keep them in your house. When you go out to the open countryside one day, take them with you and burn them and bury them. This applies to the Noble Qur'an and the noble hadiths. As for the rest of the newspapers and the like, there is no harm in placing them with what the municipality collects.
The Shaykh : It is well known that the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and the speech of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is noble and precious, and care must be taken with it. It must be held in high esteem, and it is not permissible to throw it into filth or impure things under any circumstances. However, in some countries, we see that some municipalities, may Allah guide them, provide a special bin for newspapers, magazines, and books. If such a facility exists, that is good. If one has extra books, he should take them to that designated bin, and he will have fulfilled his obligation. After placing them in that bin, the responsibility lies with the municipality. The municipality will be thanked and rewarded by Allah (Mighty and Majestic) if it does so.
As for ordinary bins where filth, stench, and other disgusting things are thrown, it is not possible to place the speech of Allah and the speech of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in them. However, if the municipality workers have understanding and awareness, and you place the items in a bag and set them aside next to the bin so that the workers know they are not to be mixed with other waste, I hope there is no harm in that.
Otherwise, if you fear that the workers do not have knowledge, as is usually the case with municipality workers, you should keep them in your house. When you go out to the open countryside one day, take them with you and burn them and bury them. This applies to the Noble Qur'an and the noble hadiths. As for the rest of the newspapers and the like, there is no harm in placing them with what the municipality collects.